Ayahuasca (ai-uh-wa-skuh), also known as Grandmother's Medicine and Vine of the Soul, is a sacred Amazonian tea made from the Psychotria viridis shrub along with the stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. The tea has psychoactive properties that increase a person's connection with themselves and the universe.
The effects of Ayahuasca tend to be felt around 30 minutes to 1 hour after consumption of the tea. The effects usually last between 4 to 6 hours, but this will depend on the individual and strength of the brew.
Possible effects include:
Milena (daughter of lead Shamans, Silvana and Emerson) is a natural healer and nurturer. Her gifts allowed her to start guiding ceremonies as a teenager. Throughout the years, she has observed her parents and studied the ayahuasca medicine and its healing properties. Now she is the lead facilitator of many of our workshops, ceremonies, and yoga classes. Her greatest expertise is within Rapé.
Gustavo (son of lead Shamans, Silvana and Emerson) is a self-taught musician and creator. He has studied music and its effects on the human psyche during ceremonies. He in charge of maintaining the healing energy needed for ceremonies through music. His expertise allows him to create specifically curated playlists and original songs for ceremonies. He plays several instruments, which you will see live.
Suellen (wife of Gustavo) is a medium between the physical and spiritual realms. She is also in charge of recording and documenting the retreat experience as a whole. So, often times, you'll see her with a camera. Nothing is posted without consent, she does this so that we can always learn and improve the retreat experience. Her greatest expertise is within ancestral entities.
Abiygal (wife of Milena) was born and empath and healer. Deep down, since childhood, she has always wanted to study Shamanic practice and help people find inner peace. Luckily, she manifested the perfect partner and married into the culture. Her expertise is within Rapé and Psychology. She is a facilitator in many of our spiritual workshops and our on-site counselor.
Fernando Mantoani is our lead tea brewer. He travels to the Amazon to retrieve the Psychotria viridis shrub and Banisteriopsis caapi vine that deforesters try to destroy. He then cleans the leaves and roots of the plants, chops them, blesses them, and makes our healing medicines and teas. Since he is the first point of contact with the medicines, he has a very important and meticulous job.
Emerson and Silvana (married) are, again, our lead Shamans. Emerson is a natural protector and grounder. He also makes our healing medicines and custom tabaco pipes. Silvana is a natural leader and all around mother figure. She embodies everything Ayahuasca and also makes custom jewelry. They both facilitate all of our ceremonies, with expertise in all of the medicines we offer.